Technical

Official Number: 122942
Yard Number: 263
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 225
Net Tonnage: 72
Length: 125.2 ft
Breadth: 21.7 ft
Depth: 11.8 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl by W. V. V. Lidgerwood, Coatbridge
Built: J. Duthie, Sons & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Boiler: A. & W. Dalglish, Pollockshaws, Glasgow

History

10.5.1906: Launched by J. Duthie, Sons & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.263) for Tettenhall Steam Fishing Co of Fleetwood Ltd, Fleetwood as MERRYDALE.
18.7.1906: Registered at Fleetwood (FD77), Louis Cohen, Norbreck designated manager.
31.7.1906: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to Williams Deacon’s Bank Ltd, London (A).
31.7.1906: Completed.
11.8.1909: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to J. Marr & Son Ltd, Fleetwood B). James H. Marr designated manager.
9.10.1913: Mortgage (A) discharged.
10.10.1913: Mortgage (B) discharged.
10.10.1913: Vessel mortgaged (64/64) to J. Marr & Con Ltd, Fleetwood (C).
1914: New boiler fitted.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 91.11net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
7.5.1915: Requisitioned for war service (Ad.No.1759). Commissioned at Fleetwood.
8.5.1915: Arrived Devonport. Fitted with Hotchkiss 3pdr, carrying cruiser mine and mine-sweep. i.a.w. Area XIV Patrol Orders dated 30.3.1915. Allocated to Unit No.92 – Section D based Isles of Scilly (Sk.W. Bell RNR) .
9.1.1916-15.1.1916: Refit at Falmouth Relief KING FREDERICK (Ad.No.2659.
10.1916: Allocated to Unit No.62 – Section H, 3rd Division based Falmouth (Sk. W. Bell RNR) *.
1.10.1918: 1.10.1918: At Falmouth with ‘Trawler Sweepers’.
2.11.1916: James A. Robertson designated manager.
1.10.1918: Mortgaged (C) discharged.
18.10.1918: Sold to The Lancashire Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Fleetwood. James A. Robertson designated manager.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Fleetwood.
18.6.1919: Sold to Victory Steam Trawling Co (Fleetwood) Ltd, Fleetwood. Walter Morley designated manager)
1928: Sold to North Star Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen. John A. Harrow designated manager.
4.4.1928: Fleetwood registry closed.
10.4.1928: Registered at Aberdeen (A334).
1937: Sold to Metal Industries Ltd (£800) for breaking up at Rosyth, Fife (Contract No.15E).
5.1937: Delivered Rosyth from Aberdeen under own power.
2.6.1937: Breaking up commenced.
22.6.1937: Aberdeen registry closed “Broken up”.

*: Sk. William Bell RNR of Preston was awarded the DSC along with others “… in recognition of their services in minesweeping operations between the 1st April and 31st December, 1917”.

Click to enlarge images

Sk. William Bell D.S.C.
Picture courtesy of The Val & Harry Silburn Collection

Letter from Admiralty
Picture courtesy of The Val & Harry Silburn Collection

William Bell’s DSC
Picture courtesy of The Val & Harry Silburn Collection

Changelog
27/12/2008: Page published. 5 updates since then.
14/06/2021: Updated history.